By now, most people have seen this photo of 12 year old Devante Hart
hugging and being hugged by Portland, OR, Police Sergeant Bret Barnum at
a Ferguson protest rally in Portland, Oregon on 11/28/14.
The young man was
holding a sign reading, "Free Hugs." Sgt. Barnum came up and spoke to
him for a few minutes, just like he might any 12 year old. Young Mr.
Hart began tearing up, and when Sgt. Barnum asked him for a hug, we see
the results. Two human beings, one in a uniform who stands ready to
give his life for this young man if needed, and another who is willing
to step across the divide created by a belief about the police.

“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your
tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil
and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord
watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the
Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:10-12 (NLT)

“It took 10 deputies to stop that angry man and I couldn’t
take his vital signs…” The new nurse excitedly relating with me why her shift
at Intake the night prior was overwhelming.

“Yup…It happens…” I calmly responded.

“This would not be your first nor last…”

“But in each time, you’ll learn something new…”

Some of the deputies who worked with her that night
intermittently came by to say “hello” to her as she worked in the Clinic that
Saturday night. Their faces showing weariness…Yet one particular mood was easy
to spot…

“You guys heard it, too from the news?” one asked.

He was talking about the two New York cops shot by an angry
man who wanted revenge.

We all shared that pain. That sadness.

Anyone who works in law enforcement knows that this is a big
family and it hurts so much to lose innocent, honest working cops to such
tragic acts. It doesn’t help when the media or any politician plays with people’s
emotions to get them on their side and win their selfish causes. Lies being
delivered as if they’re the sole truths.

“Have some sweets,” I offered to one visiting deputy. Quiet
while sitting the whole time as if he had no energy left from mixed emotions that
he was trying to put off.

“Merry Christmas and be safe when you’re out there,” I
cautioned as he wished all the nursing staff the same.

He would go back to the prison’s Intake. The sadness and his
tired body were needed to be put aside as we all knew… that he would face many
more combative arrestees and those who were committed to play tough and resist
authority.

I silently prayed knowing that the “Prince of Peace” was
within reach. Because I understood from Him.

Lord, I ask that You protect those who workhard in law enforcement and the military.
Comfort those who lost their loved ones unexpectedly. Help those who selflessly labor for Your
Kingdom and help them endure. Thank You for the true peace You alone give.
Thank You that You are watching over the righteous despite these trying times.
Thank You for coming here in this dark place to make Your Light be known. Thank
You for dying for us so we can live.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love,
growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body,
the church. – Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

For a child is born to us, a son is
given to us.The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be
called:Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –
Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

Then God put him in the place of honor at
his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would
repent of their sins and be forgiven. – Acts 5:31 (NLT)

I was being careful to steady my hands on my steering wheel.
Throngs of cars ran past me from different directions. Behind me. From the
right lanes. From the left. Some, suddenly merging and had cut me off only to suddenly braked. Their red lights cautioning me to step on my own and I slowed down even
more.

I didn’t want to get angry anymore. I knew many drivers out
there were crazy enough to do wrong turns or suicidal speeds way above the
norm. Then…

I saw the military convoy. Different kinds of trucks with
some cannon-like appearance. Obscured by a green tarp that seemed to hide it in
secrecy. Trying to maintain their speed in order to keep their trucks in unity.
I could tell the faster ones dared not to do so to allow the slower, heavier
trucks to keep up with the first one’s speed. I saw him. A young man whose head
was covered with greenish helmet. Browsing through many cars that passed the
truck where he was. The plastic cover on the back all neatly rolled up as he
sat there facing the traffic behind the truck. His head scanning until…

I saw him looking at me… From a brief, careful glance, I
felt his stare. As his truck and my car passed by where there were Christmas
trees being sold off the side of the freeway. I wanted to thank him. I felt no
one was acknowledging him. I knew I had the opportunity to make him aware how
thankful I was. How grateful I was. Of his service and sacrifice. And that of
others’. I found myself praying as I steadied my eyes on the road. Avoiding
mishap but wouldn’t let go of that opportunity to thank him and make him aware
of what this season also was about.

I waved…For mere seconds and put my right hand again on the wheel...

I looked really fast to where he was and he kept his
composure. Then, I saw him raised his right arm. And waved back at me as a big
smile appeared on his young face. I smiled back and continued driving as I
passed his truck up until I couldn’t see the convoy anymore on my rear view
mirror. The sun slowly setting on the western horizon.

I saw the parallel. Of how humanity has been raging war
against Christmas. Against Christianity. Many choose to ignore this war because
of tolerance. Instead of saying “Merry Christmas”, many opt for “Happy
Holidays.” The word “God” being censored and other Christianity-related beliefs
while everything else had been making its way into festive celebrations. All
for the sake of not being able to offend. So others said…

But there would always be one truth...

That true soldiers of Christ should honor this special time
of the year. Christ’s soldiers could repeal all the “humbugs” from many
Ebenezer while waving His truth in love.

The second, heavy metal door slammed loudly as I continued
to walk quietly towards the Charge Nurse’s desk on Friday night. A familiar
long locks of hair greeted me as she just hang up the phone after speaking with
one of the units.

“Charge Nurse already?” I asked with a big smile on my face.

“Yes,” she shyly admitted and her eyes lit up upon seeing
who asked her.

“I knew you could do it!” I uttered back.

She was the new nurse being given a hard time that I wrote
about from my last post. A threat to those who had intentionally kept their
pacts as they formed their own groups behind the prison walls. People whose
eyes were more intent on seeing everything, keener than what the prison’s
security cameras would never be able to scan or see. Except whose eyes always
chose to see the negatives and all evil things than to see the good and the
positive.

We had been having problems again with shortage of staff
despite my workplace recently hiring many new nurses, both experienced and
non-experienced. With the trial I had gone through with the corrupt
administration, I had been grateful that their decision to make me Per Diem
from a full time position became an advantage. It wasn’t my own strength that
helped me get through. I knew it was somehow God’s plan to turn all those
hardships into good on my part. Now, they couldn’t force me to work many hours
nor put me to work in an unpleasant part of the prison.

“Just keep doing what you are doing! I told you… Show them
what you got!”

“Why? Tell me please. What did you hear about me?”

“Nothin’”

“Seriously…I need to know, Nurse Rcubes. Because I feel
there is something going on and it feels great to know that I can speak openly
with one, “You!”

My heart and mouth had kept all the bad accusations I heard
about her. Many advised me to be cautious on the first night I hadn’t even
known her before I oriented her to what we did in the Clinic. I kept quiet. I
knew better after working for 14 years to never allow anyone to make me form my
own opinion about someone based on what they perceive or suggest. I would
rather form my own after working with that person and see their own work habits
with my own eyes. Hear how they speak. See how they interact not only with
medical or custody staff but also with inmates.

“Did you lie, Nurse Rcubes when I first asked you? You knew something,
right?” she repeated.

With my memory rewinding from the last nights I had worked
with her, I paused for a while and was careful to answer that query. With the
hope of always not being a part of the grapevine…But instead, to always
encourage and be a part of the good than the bad.

After a deep sigh, I started talking, my eyes glued to meet
her own, piercing stare:

“You may call it that…But I chose to call it "encouragement." I shut up at
that time and didn’t tell you what I knew because I wanted to encourage you…”

She almost fell off the chair. She didn’t know how to react
upon my admission. But at the same time, I felt her relief upon the chance she
might heard a confirmation of what was to be exposed.

“I did that because I wanted you to focus on the positive
not the negative and bad things you encountered as you joined us here. Tell me,
“Would you quit if I said the truth otherwise?”

Her head bowed lower a bit. Gathering strength to once again
straighten her neck and meet my stare, she uttered in a sad voice…

“Perhaps, Nurse Rcubes. Because it was overwhelming…”

She thanked me. She had asked for me to accept her gratitude
and a hug. She went back to her empty seat. The Charge Nurse’s. She looked back
again to where I was and smiled at me. As the phone rang again as one of the
units was calling to ask about medical stuff.

I felt her strength. I felt her positive energy. I always
saw her as a hardworking nurse burned out from working in a hospital. Learning
new theories and applying her learned skills in a different field of Nursing.
But the bottom line was…

Anyone can choose to have fear or faith… To have fear means
lack of faith. To not have faith means not knowing or believing in God. Faith
is a gift from God. To not have faith in everything we do means we deny that
hope that God will and can take care of us no matter what circumstances we’re
facing.

I pray…someday…that this nurse would always remember the
things we had learned together in the prison. That there was hope despite the
trying times. That there was an opportunity to grow in faith whenever we faced
adversities or when we felt afraid. Because what was true for me would be true
for her…Or for anyone else…..

That God can handle anything that happens in anyone’s life.
It is our choice to trust that and truly believe that He will take care of us…Because
His faithful love endures...

The Attacker (5/15/09)

The sun was just peeking from the Eastern skies.

Out in the prison’s yard, some huge Sheriff’s buses were illuminated by the soft glow coming from the lights all over from the tall lamp posts. Their engines were turned on, warming up, before the buses would take the inmates to the different courts where they would have their trials.

Orange-uniformed men were lined up in pairs, joined together with handcuffs and chained, forming a long line. They already had their breakfast and had their morning medications prior to going to courts. Some were fidgeting, as they waited to board those buses.

All of a sudden, all hell broke loose! Two men were engaged in a fight, using weapons they made secretly for a while. Deputies called for help on the radio, both for custody back-up and medical staff, as well.

When the air was cleared and the other inmates were secured, one man was down on the floor. He sustained multiple gashes but two of them were deep. One cut was vertically etched from his left ear going down to the jaw line. The other dangerous cut was horizontal on his left neck, close to the jugular vein. Pool of blood dripped all over the floor. Holding his bleeding neck, he was pointing at the other inmate few feet away, being guarded by the other deputies.

The other man being accused was not hurt. There were no lacerations nor any other signs of trauma. He was obviously very agitated as he was being questioned by those deputies, while the medical staff started treating the other man on the floor. They cleaned the wounds and controlled the bleeding. That man was sent to the nearby hospital.

When the investigation was finalized, it turned out to be that the “downed man who was accusing the other inmate” was the attacker and the other one who didn’t have injury was the one attacked. The deputies found out that it was the second attempt to attack the unhurt man. Both attacks on him failed. He was well-prepared after the first attempt on him, that when the second attempt was done, he was able to defend himseld and ended up injuring his attacker severely.

[Source: Life Application Bible]:

We also have an “accuser of the brethren.” Satan and his army of demons are the enemies of God and of everything good.

“Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death.” –Hebrews 2:14

Because of what Jesus had done [dying on the cross], we, who live in constant fear of death shouldn’t be afraid anymore. Jesus had freed us from that fear so we can live for Him. When we belong to God, we know that death is only the portal that leads into “eternal life”. [“Thank You Lord!].

Paul warned us, too that we also battle against the evil forces of Satan, who is a vicious fighter. But to be able to withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armor. We face an army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, they become our enemies. They will try any device to turn us away from the Lord.

Fear not! For God has provided His supernatural power to defeat Satan and his army, through His Holy Spirit within us. So, arm yourselves with God’s armor.

Let us be strong in the Lord's mighty power. Let's put on His whole armor to resist the enemy's attacks: put on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that we are well-prepared. We will need faith in every battle as our shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed by Satan and his army. Let us put on salvation as our helmet, not forgetting the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Let's pray at all times, on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must stay alert and be persistent in our prayers for all Christians everywhere. [Ephesians 6:10-18].